Banned Book Fest

Join First Page at UGA’s Banned Book Fest! Learn why opposing book censorship matters.

By third year Rachel Waters

Last week, an email was sent around 5:30 PM officially canceling all UGA activities for Thursday and Friday, prompting many to leave for home and all campus events to be promptly canceled.

Simultaneously, it was also Banned Books Week, an initiative started in 1982 to raise awareness about censored literature in the United States. Banned Books Week took place nationwide from September 22nd to 28th with the theme of “Freed Between the Lines.” The American Library Association President Cindy Hohl described this as "an observance of the freedom we find in the pages of books and the need to defend that freedom from censorship.”

These events involve all members of the community: students, librarians, teachers, authors, booksellers, & readers who have been impacted by censorship. According to statistics recorded from The American Library Organization and Pen America, 8/10 top 10 banned books in the USA had LGBTQ+ characters in 2019, and over 50% of books challenged/banned feature culturally diverse content. This is why it is so important to spread awareness about book censorship – as it celebrates the freedom to read and publish diverse perspectives.

As the Library Director of Wes Des Moines Public Library notes,

“It’s not so much that we are celebrating banned books – banning books is something that causes great sadness and distress in libraries – but, more the joyful celebration of our freedom to read and a reminder to our patrons of the value of free and open access to information.”

First Page at UGA is a non-profit student organization on campus that works to increase literacy rates in Athens-Clarke County through volunteer opportunities, book drives, donations, and partnerships with local libraries and schools.They will soon hold its Banned Book Fest after a postponement due to inclement weather.

The event will include activities presented by various UGA clubs where participants can calculate how many banned books they have read, guess reasons for a book being banned, take the role of a librarian and decide whether the complaints against a book warrant banning it, and many more! This is a great opportunity to enjoy free pizza, participate in fun activities, and learn more about the significance of discussing banned books.

Even though Banned Book Week is officially over, the conversation around book censorship will always be important and relevant. For more details on the specific time, follow First Page on Instagram @firstpageuga!